Next story in Space

Record crowds by the thousands are expected to turn out
Thursday (Feb. 24) to watch NASA's space shuttle Discovery soar
to space for the last time.

Luckily, a shuttle launch is such a bright spectacle that
anyone on Florida's Space Coast can get a decent view. The
shuttle is poised to blast off on Feb. 24 at 4:50 p.m. EST
(2150 GMT) to make one last delivery trip to the International
Space Station.

Tickets are scarce, but there are still some steps spectators
can take to make sure they have a memorable experience watching
shuttle Discovery launch.

Official NASA sites

The best launch viewing spot available to the public is on the
NASA Causeway, about 6 miles (9.6 km) from the shuttle's Launch
Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA
sells adult tickets for viewing from the causeway for $59 ($49
for children), which provides an unobstructed view over the
Banana River.

However, if you don't already have tickets for the causeway,
you're out of luck: Most of the tickets were sold out months
ago, when Discovery was initially slated to launch on Nov. 5.
Discovery's final mission has been delayed since November
due to issues with the shuttle's external fuel tank.

The number of people clamoring for spots on the NASA Causeway,
as well as at the visitor center itself and the nearby U.S.
Astronaut Hall of Fame, was so large NASA instituted a new
ticket-selling policy for this final launch of Discovery,
Farmer said.

People first had to register for a chance to buy tickets to
these locations, and then names were randomly selected from the
list to purchase the passes.

"We did make a limited number of tickets available to
view launch from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to a
select group of people, selected at random, who registered
for the opportunity to purchase space shuttle launch viewing
tickets," Andrea Farmer, public relations manager at the
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, told SPACE.com. "We are
expecting the same number of people as for the November launch
[attempt]."

And even though the launch has been delayed several times, NASA
is expecting many of the original ticket holders to be back
this week.

"The level of public interest in this launch is quite high,"
Farmer said. "Through a survey, we found that many of our
guests are still planning on attending the launch of
space shuttle Discovery this Thursday."

But for those without coveted NASA tickets, fear not!
Opportunities abound for good viewing beyond the spaceport. All
you need is a car and a good map.

Other options

One of the most popular locations is Space View Park in
Titusville, Fla., just across the Indian River from Kennedy
Space Center.

"I would definitely say go to Titusville – that's the best view
and the closest view you can get without having tickets," said
Ben Cooper, a space photographer for NASA and other media
outlets. "Anywhere along the river is good."

Space View Park has the added benefit of an audio feed that
plays the official NASA countdown, so people gathered at the
site can stay updated on the launch status, Cooper said.

Farmer herself said she has watched many a launch from Space
View Park before she went to work for NASA. This spot also
tends to get the most crowded, though.

"It's definitely going to be mobbed in that spot," Cooper said.
"There really isn't any place to go to get away from the
crowds."

No matter where you choose to camp out, getting there early is
a good idea.

Since Discovery is slated to lift off at 4:50 p.m. EST, bet on
arriving at your spot in the morning, at least six hours ahead,
Cooper said.

Parking is likely to be tight all over Titusville, with
landowners near the Indian River tending to rent out parking
spots on launch day for a small fee. Bringing snacks and games
for the long day is a good idea, as well as blankets and
chairs, and – of course – a camera.

No matter where you choose to watch from, the experience should
be memorable.

"We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to
see a space shuttle launch," Farmer said. "I hope that whether
or not they have a ticket to Kennedy Space Center – please
don't miss out on the opportunity. It's just amazing,
especially if it's your once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Last chances

And if this time around doesn't work out for you, you still
have one – and maybe two – more shots.

NASA's shuttle Endeavour is currently slated to launch on its
final mission to space on April 19, 2011, at 7:48 p.m. EDT
(2350 GMT).

NASA has not yet sold tickets for viewing that launch. To be
alerted when they open the lottery for the chance to buy
passes, sign up here.

A NASA authorization bill signed last year by President Obama
approved one more flight by the shuttle Atlantis, though that
mission must be allocated funding by Congress before it is
officially on. This extra trip is slated to lift off on June 28
at 3:48 p.m. EDT (1948 GMT).

The crowds for viewing either of these launches will likely be
some of the largest ever, so it never hurts to plan ahead.

And of course, if you can't be there in person, you can always
watch the launch live on NASA TV here:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public.